We had a nice week this past week. It was parent-teacher conference week at school, which meant some late nights, but we got out of school early on Friday, which was a very needed break. We spent some time together as a family, and we had 28 people over to the house on Saturday for Corey's cross country end-of-season party. We did a bonfire and hayride for the kids, which was blast. I think they all had a great time. My parents visited today, and we went for a short hike and out to lunch. My mom and I went shopping for fabric to make a princess costume for an upcoming library event I am hosting, so it was fun to have girl time. This week is back to the usual schedule - computer workshops and scouts on Monday, Zumba class on Wednesday and Thursday, and computer training this weekend. Here's our menu for the week. For more menu ideas check out orgjunkie.com.

Sunday - Beef Stew, Rolls, Salad
Monday - Leftovers
Tuesday - Chili and PB Sandwiches
Wednesday - Easy Chicken and Stuffing Skillet, Green Beans, Peaches
Thursday - Chili Spaghetti, Salad
Friday - Eat out
Saturday - Ultimate BBQ Chicken, Broccoli, Salad

Saturday afternoon this surprise package arrived on my doorstep!



Nadine C., the person I sent an apron to for the Fall Flirty Apron Swap, read that I had not received a package for the Fall Sassy Apron Swap, so she served as my apron angel and sent me the most beautiful apron package I could have asked for! Nadine, this is by far my favorite apron. I wore it all day Saturday! She also sent a matching potholder (how cute is that!) and a very pretty matching necklace. Nadine, I can't tell you how much this meant to me. I've been in kind of a funk lately, and your thoughtfulness really cheered me up. Thank you so much!

This past week was a bit better for me. I am slowing getting myself reorganized after my computer fiasco a couple of weeks ago. This week was the boy's last week of cross country (which he is very sad about), and it was the last of the band competitions that the hubby had to attend for work. We had a nice day together as a family today, and my week at school looks a bit more manageable. Be sure to check my previous posts to see pictures of my latest aprons. :) Here's the menu for the week. For more menu ideas, go to orgjunkie.com.

Sunday - Filets, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad
Monday - Tuna Noodle Casserole, Broccoli
Tuesday - Mexican Gumbo, Salad, Applesauce
Wednesday - Bourbon Chicken, Rice, Pea Pods, Peaches
Thursday - Pork Chop Potato Casserole, Green Beans, Salad
Friday - Out to eat
Saturday - Mini foods (theme for cross country party, hosted at our house)

I finished my apron swap package for the Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas swap. My partner's favorite hot drink is hot chocolate, so I found some cute holiday fabric that has hot cocoa on it. I think it turned out really cute. I hope she enjoys her package. It goes in the mail tomorrow! Here are some photos.

Last Friday I received my package from my partner in the Fall Flirty Apron Swap. The apron was really adorable and very well made. She also sent me a cute charm bracelet to go with it. Thank you, Rachelle, for the wonderful package! Here are some photos of my gifts (sorry that the one of me in the apron is so sloppy - it was a sweats day for me today).

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Miranda and I were in charge of Friday snacks at school. Because so many of our colleagues have been in a funk lately, we decided to try to cheer them up by theming our snacks as a fall festival. We had caramel apples, miniature spice cakes, hot cider, homemade granola bars, trail mix, and of course, chocolate. :) Here are some pics of our snack table.

I have great news! My techie friend, Mark, saved my recipes!!! Thank you, Mark!!! I was able to get them backed up to my portable hard drive and my home PC, so life is good again. My laptop still needs some work, but at least I can cook again. :-) I really hated to think about having to start my recipe collection all over.

We have our usual busy evenings, so my menu reflects the need to cook things quickly and/or ahead of time. Cross country season is coming to an end this weekend, so things will get a little better (I hope). Here's this week's menu. For more menu ideas go to orgjunkie.com.

Sunday - New York Strip Steaks, Buttered noodles, Green beans

Monday - Red Beans and Rice (Zatarans) with Sausage, Salad, Crescent Rolls

Tuesday - Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas, Mandarin Organges

Thursday - Shepherds Pie, Salad, Peaches

Friday - Eat at football game (last home game of the season)

Saturday - Eat at band contest

Ingredients

1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2-3 garlic cloves,minced (I use the jar kind)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 (15 ounce) bag frozen corn (you can use peas and carrots if your family will eat them - mine won't)
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
2-3 T A1 Steak Sauce
3-4 cups leftover mashed potatoes

Directions
Brown beef,garlic and onion together in a large skillet, draining the fat. Add the vegetables,tomato soup,oregano and steak sauce to the beef mixture,mixing well. Spread the mashed potatoes over all, sealing edges. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350 F for about 20 minutes, or until bubbling.

One of my teacher friends had a baby this weekend, so to help her out, I am making some meals for her to put in the freezer. Because my own week is rather hectic and I'm still mourning the loss of my recipe files, I making the same things for my own family so we at least have some things to scrounge from this week. We will be eating lots of pasta because it freezes well, and the boy can eat it pretty easily with his new braces. I will attempt to make next week more interesting, I promise. :-) For more menu ideas, go to orgjunkie.com.

Sunday - ate out at Olive Garden in an attempt to cheer myself up
Monday - eat at computer training
Tuesday - Chicken Manicotti, Salad, Peaches
Wednesday - Cheese Manicotti, Salad, Garlic Muffins

Thursday - Hot Dogs in Crescent Rolls (yes, I know they are a terrible food but I'm desperate), Steak Fries, Green Beans
Friday - date night with hubby (boy going to school dance)
Saturday - Chicken Alfredo, Broccoli, Salad

I'm having one of those "whiner baby" moments, so instead of whining in person, I just thought I would vent on my blog instead. I'm allowed to do that! It's my blog. ;)

This fall I participated in two apron swaps, which I love doing. My sadness is that I did not receive an apron in return from either swap. I really wish that if people are going to sign up for a swap that they truly intend to participate. I know, suck it up and deal with it. But, it still makes me sad. I do realize that something terrible could have happened in the lives of my partners to prevent them from participating, so I probably shouldn't be complaining publicly, but I'm just having a sad weekend and don't want to complain to my family. :) (So partners, if you do happen to read this for some reason, I apologize if you had something terrible happen.) I do wish that they would have contacted the swap host to let them know that they can't participate so that I don't keep eagerly awaiting a package every day. I'm worse than a kid at Christmas time. I really need to get a life. ;)

On top of my apron sadness, my computer crashed again. This is the second time this year, and you would think I would have learned my lesson about backing up information after losing four years of work the last time it crashed. But alas, I apparently did not learn my lesson. I do keep almost everything on an external hard drive that I back up to our main home PC. Everything except MY RECIPES! ARGGGG!!!!!!!!! How stupid can I get?!? Out of all the things on my computer, my recipes are probably one of the most important things to me. They make me happy. They are organized in folders. I love them dearly. :-( Now, they are gone. And, my techie friend Mark, the only person I know who might be able to tell me how I might save them before I have to reformat my computer, is nowhere to be found. I'm really sad, can you tell?

Ok, enough of my griping. I must get on with life. When I finally get my menu plan posted for this week, you won't see anything new, because I will have to function from the recipes already posted on the blog. At least there is lots of good stuff there.